Induction cooker sales triple as city hedges against LPG supply fears
Times of India | 9 March 2026
Kolkata: The hike in cooking gas price and the uncertainty over future availability have tripled sale of electric kitchen appliances, like induction cookers, across retail stores in the city, especially in Chandni market and Ezra Street. Retailers started experiencing the surge in sales from Saturday when the Centre announced the hike in cooking gas price, which was attributed to the rising global energy costs linked to the West Asia conflict.
Manish Khosla, director of Khosla Electronics, said the upward movement in sales of induction cookers started on Saturday evening. "People are panicking due to the rise in gas price and are apprehensive about unavailability of cylinders. On Saturday, we had 60% spurt in sales. On Sunday, it is the same. Usually, we sell about 40-45 induction cookers across our 86 outlets in the city. Now the sale has jumped to 120-130 per day," he said.
Retailers are also selling induction-compatible utensils. Besides, other electric cooking equipment, like electric kettles, cookers and hot plates, are also seeing an uptick in sales.
Rajinder Singh Raipur, founder and director of Raipur Electronics, said, "As soon as the announcement on the price hike of cooking gas was announced, people started thronging our stores to buy induction cooker and compatible utensils."
Pulkit Baid, director of Great Eastern Retail, said, "The sale of electric kitchen appliances is not restricted to induction cookers. We are selling other items, like electric kettles, too. Many are also buying new microwave ovens to keep alternative cooking options ready."
Abhishek Jain, director of Sales Emporium, said, "We are seeing over 30% spurt in induction cooker sales. Once this stock is exhausted, we will immediately replenish it. The demand is soaring."
Salt Lake resident Sumedha Bagla said, "I have bought an induction on Sunday as the gas price is burning a hole in my pocket. If a crisis happens, the price may go up further. With this apprehension in mind, I decided to keep an induction cooker at home as it will cut down on my dependence on gas cylinders."
"There has been a surge in sales in the past few days since the geopolitical crisis in West Asia. Many people have been buying induction cookers, electrical kettles and electric rice cookers as they are uncertain about the availability of LPG over the next few days," said Saqlain Ali of Fairway Traders in Chandni market.
On Ezra Street, Kolkata's biggest market for electrical goods and appliances, sales of cooking-related electrical appliances have been high. "There was a spurt of over 20% on Friday and Saturday. If the situation doesn't improve, sales might surge further. We have enough stock to cater to the demand," said Bhavik Tiwary, a retailer.